About Us

DIRECTOR

Gila Cohen received her Master’s from Columbia University School of Social Work in 1992.
Post graduate advanced training in family therapy from City University of New York Hunter College School of Social Work in 1995 and a Post Masters Certificate of Training in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy from the Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy in New York City in 1999.

Gila Cohen has a certificate in clinical supervision and supervises social workers for licensing hours. She has served as an adjunct field faculty supervisor for both Columbia and Rutgers Universities. In addition she has published and presented papers at conferences both in New York and in New Jersey as well as Mental Health Centers and Universities locally and in California.

Gila Cohen has over 20 years in the field of mental health. In 2002 she began to focus primarily on working with women and families affected by eating disorders. Ms Cohen spent several years working at Renfrew Center in New Jersey. Furthermore, Gila sought supervision training with leaders in the field of Eating Disorders such as Judith Brisman, PhD. Ms. Cohen has led a myriad of groups for women and teens with eating disorders such as mealtime support therapy, anorexia and bulimia, binge eating and multi- family support groups.
Gila Cohen is a member of the National Eating Disorders Association, National Association of Social Workers and The New Jersey Society for Clinical Social Workers.

Ms. Cohen’s approach is both interpersonal and relational. These theoretical frameworks emphasize the use of the therapeutic relationship as a healing tool. In a supportive, collaborative, honest, respectful exchange, greater insight and change can and does occur. The primary goal of therapy is to empower the client with the skills necessary to recognize and create productive and healthy relationships with self, others and food. Gila draws on her extensive years of varied experiences to use numerous modalities in treatment, yet tailors her approach to the unique needs of each client. She teaches skills used in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) as well as other models of cognitive behavioral therapy. When appropriate, she encourages a re-feeding approach used in the Maudsley method and with client’s permission encourages family participation. She also collaborates with other necessary providers for comprehensive treatment. Using all forms of technology, Ms.Cohen is accessible outside of the therapeutic hour.

Past work history:

In the early 1990’s Gila Cohen was a social worker at Montifiore Medical Center in the Bronx and part of an epidemiology study on transmission of AIDS in HV+ Substance abusers. Later, she worked with high risk pregnant women and teenagers. For over 5 years she worked with children and families in community based Family Mental Health Centers. She has led many groups such as, clients with HIV and Substance abuse,, pregnancy loss, sexual abuse survivors, and adults with chronic mental illness. As well as led psychoeducational groups for new mothers and parenting groups for parents with ADHD and groups for parents with children with mental illness.